Abstract: The use of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) binding agents and luteinizing hormone (LH) agonists to enrich for primitive hematopoietic stem cell (pHSC) populations, to target pHSC for ablation, and/or to expand pHSC populations are described. The methods can be used to prepare therapeutic hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) populations, to prepare patients for therapeutic HSC transplants, and/or to treat malignancies, such as those associated with hyperproliferative HSC.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides recombinant adenoviral vectors and adenoviral genomes that can accommodate or that contain a large transposon payload, for instance a transposon payload of up to 40 kb. The adenoviral vectors and genomes can deliver the large transposon payload into a target genome, for instance for gene therapy.

Abstract: Systems and methods to increase the efficacy of vaccines that require or are rendered more effective with T cell mediated immunity are described. The systems and methods utilize polynucleotides that genetically modify T cells to express a T cell receptor specific for an administered vaccine antigen.

Abstract: The present disclosure is based on the discovery that a clinical grade compound of Formula (I) potently blocks TGF-? activity and significantly reverse the activated phenotypes of myofibroblast in vitro. The compound of Formula (I) can be used in the treatment of fibrotic conditions in general, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, HBV infection, any liver disease, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Humanized, chimeric, murine, and human antibody or antigen binding derivatives thereof that bind to an extracellular domain of interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor ?-chain (CD123) anti-CD123 monoclonal antibodies are provided. Nucleic acids encoding the antibody or antigen binding derivative thereof that binds to an extracellular domain of interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor ?-chain (CD123) and expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid are also provided. Bispecific affinity reagents comprising a first binding domain that specifically binds to an extracellular domain of interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptor ?-chain (CD123); and a second binding domain that specifically binds to a therapeutic payload and uses thereof are provided. Embodiments of the invention include isolated antibodies and derivatives and fragments thereof, pharmaceutical formulations comprising one or more of the humanized, chimeric, or human anti-CD123 monoclonal antibodies; and cell lines that produce these monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides methods for determining the contributions of canid populations to a canid genome. The methods comprise the steps of: (a) obtaining the identity of one or both alleles in a test canid genome for each of a set of markers; and (b) determining the contributions of canid populations to the test canid genome by comparing the alleles in the test canid genome to a database comprising canid population profiles, wherein each canid population profile comprises genotype information for the set of markers in the canid populations.

Abstract: Genomic safe harbors (GSH) for genetic therapies in human stem cells and engineered nanoparticles to provide targeted genetic therapies are described. The GSH and/or associated nanoparticles can be used to safely and efficiently treat a variety of genetic, infectious, and malignant diseases.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods of treating lymphoma that expresses a short histone H2A variant. In some embodiments, the method can comprise collecting a sample from a subject having or suspected of having lymphoma, detecting a short histone H2A variant (sH2A) expression level in the sample collected from the subject, and administering to the subject a therapeutically effective dose of an anthracycline agent, if the subject has sH2A variant expression level that is detectable. In other embodiments, the sH2A is the H2A.B variant. In other embodiments, the anthracycline agent can be aclarubicin.

Abstract: Compositions and methods to promote thymic function are described. The compositions and methods can activate the GPR39 receptor and/or a purinergic receptor, such as P2Y2. The activation can upregulate regenerative molecules, such as FOXN1, interleukin (IL)-22, IL-23, and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4).

Abstract: Methods for treating malignancies including multiple myeloma (MM), methods for expanding immune cells, methods for characterizing and enhancing anti-tumor functions of immune cells, and methods for characterizing immune cell responses to agonist immunotherapies including decoy-resistant IL-18 (DR-18) therapies.

Abstract: A method for detecting the binding of a chromatin-associated factor of interest to a sequence of chromatin DNA in a cell, including: contacting a permeabilized cell or nucleus with a specific binding agent that specifically recognizes the chromatin-associated factor of interest, wherein the specific binding agent is linked to a nuclease that is inactive or an activatable transposome; activating the nuclease or transposase, thereby excising the sequence of chromatin DNA bound to the chromatin-associated factor of interest; isolating the excised DNA; and determining the sequence of the excised DNA, thereby detecting binding of a chromatin-associated factor of interest to a sequence of chromatin DNA in the cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to immunomodulatory fusion proteins containing an extracellular binding domain and an intracellular signaling domain, wherein binding of a target can generate a modulatory signal in a host cell, such as a T cell. The present disclosure also relates to uses of immune cells expressing such immunomodulatory fusion proteins to treat certain diseases, such as cancer or infectious disease.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to immune cells that express an exogenous neoantigen and an immunogenicity enhancer, or to T cells that express an exogenous neoantigen, and their use in treating a disease or disorder, such as cancer for tumor associated neoantigens. Related expression constructs, kits, host cells, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods to genetically modify B cells to express selected antibodies are described. The systems and methods can be used to: obviate the need for classical vaccinations; provide protection against infectious agents for which no vaccinations are currently available; provide protection against infectious agents when patients are otherwise immune-suppressed; and/or provide a benefit provided by a therapeutic antibody, such as in the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a panel of nucleic acid molecule primers specific for HLA-specific alleles and other genetic polymorphisms, which are useful for quantitatively amplifying these markers to detect, diagnose, and monitor individuals who have or are at risk of certain disease conditions, such as autoimmune disease, proliferative disease, infectious disease, allograft rejection, or pregnancy-related pathologies.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a panel of nucleic acid molecule primers specific for HLA-specific alleles and other genetic polymorphisms, which are useful for quantitatively amplifying these markers to detect, diagnose, and monitor individuals who have or are at risk of certain disease conditions, such as autoimmune disease, proliferative disease, infectious disease, allograft rejection, or pregnancy-related pathologies.

Abstract: Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) with binding domains derived from a novel suite of human CD33-binding antibodies are described. The CARs include optimized short and intermediate spacer regions. The current disclosure also provides methods of cell expansion/activation processes utilizing IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, and/or IL-21 that improve cellular proliferation and cell lysis of the CARs as described.

Abstract: Combination therapies that include (i) an immune cell that expresses a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or similar molecule and (ii) a compound that preserves or potentiates the in vivo actions of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF?) against cancer cells are described. The combination therapies result in the killing of antigen-negative cells in the vicinity of immunotherapy targeted-antigen-positive cells reducing the survivability of escape variants and providing other benefits.

Abstract: The disclosure provides antibodies, antibody fragments, and antibody derivatives that bind to the viral envelope spike protein (S2P) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and related compositions, and methods. In some embodiments, the antibodies, antibody fragments, and antibody derivatives bind to an epitope of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2.

Abstract: The application discloses in vitro methods for diagnosing lung cancer in a subject, wherein the method comprises detecting at least one biomarker selected from the group consisting of Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor beta (ARHGDIB), alpha-tubulin 4A (TUBA4A), glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1), filamin A (FLNA), peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) and cadherin 13 (CDH13) in a biological sample from the subject, and kits for measuring said at least one biomarker.